Teachers, binmen and postal workers have threatened to join railway workers on strike in a move that could cause chaos not seen since the 1970s, BirminghamLive reports.
The rail strike over three days this week will cause travel difficulties for millions, and now teachers, binmen and posties have threatened to join them in fresh warnings.
The teaching unions NASUWT and the NEU have vowed to ballot members, while Unison, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing are also considering action.
NEU general secretary Mary Bousted said: “The case for a better deal for teachers will be set out in full this Wednesday in our letter to the Secretary of State. If it should fall on deaf ears, and teachers are offered a pay rise significantly below inflation, we will proceed to an indicative ballot of members. Teachers have had enough of a government which simply does not value them.”
Oliver Dowden, Conservative Party co-chairman, said: “The unions’ plan to bring Britain to a standstill by holding strikes across swathes of the economy and our public services is deeply selfish. Hard-pressed families and businesses will suffer extra cost and disruption caused by these unnecessary strikes.”
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: "We are acutely aware of the cost-of-living pressures being felt by workers and families across the UK. Every business wants to support their staff and the railway is no exception.
"But, as an industry we have to change our ways of working and improve productivity to help pay our own way - the alternatives of asking taxpayers to shoulder the burden or passengers to pay higher fares when they too are feeling the pinch simply isn't fair."
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